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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1996-12-BOS-min 60-375a Selectmen's Meeting Minutes December 2, 1996 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held on Monday,December 2, 1996 in the Selectmen's Meeting Room, Town Office Building at 7:30 p.m. Chairman McSweeney,Mr. Dailey, Mr. Busa,Mr. Fenn,Mrs. Eddison;Mr. Cohen,Town Counsel;Mr. White, Town Manager; and Ms. Smith,Executive Clerk,were present. Public Discussion Aaron Liebhauber asked the Board whether a permit would be needed this year to display the Creche on the Battlegreen. He asked why a permit is not needed each year for the Creche to be put up. Mr. McSweeney explained that the Board of Selectmen over twenty years ago gave permission to the Knights of Columbus and the Masons jointly to maintain and set up the Creche on the Battlegreen each year. He further said it is the sentiment of a majority of the current Board Members that this is an appropriate use of the Battlegreen. Mr. Dailey also explained that this Board has been very liberal in giving permission for use of the Battlegreen. Classification Hearing Mr. McSweeney opened a public hearing and information session on tax classification. Board of Assessors members Bill Jackson,Bob Foster and Sara Robinson were present to explain the options available to the Selectmen in choosing a residential factor. Also present were Town Assessor Janet Vacon and Appraiser Joe Nugent. The residential values continue to increase faster than the CIP. Bill Jackson explained that the Board could go as high as 1.75 on the residential factor;however,that would leave no room down the road as that is the maximum. Board members expressed concern over an aging population in Lexington, many of whom are living on a fixed income. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to keep the residential f Y at its current rate of 1.70. Boston Gas Grant of Location-Eliot Road Mr. McSweeney opened a public hearing on the petition of Boston Gas Company for a grant of location to construct and locate gas mains and pipes,valves,governors, manholes and other 5 60-375b Selectmen's Meeting-December 2, 1996 structures, fixtures and appurtenances designed or intended to protect or operate said mains. There being no questions, Mr. McSweeney declared the hearing closed. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve the petition of the Boston Gas Company to install approximately 225 feet, more or less, of 4 inch gas main in Eliot Road, Lexington, from the existing 4 inch gas main at 11 Eliot Road, easterly to 5A Eliot Road. Consent Agenda Adjustments of Water and Sewer Charges Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve the following adjustments: Adjustments of water charges for 7/1/96 - 7/12/96 $28,528.45 Adjustments of sewer charges for 7/1/96 - 7/12/96 $57,996.05 one-Dav Liquor Licenses 1 Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve the application and issue one-day pp liquor licenses to: Armenian Sisters Academy in Lexington for Saturday, December 14, 1996 Masonic Temple for December 22, 1996 Auctioneer's License Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve the application and issue an auctioneer's license to Newton Oriental Rugs for Sunday, February 23, 1997 at the National Guard Armory, 459 Bedford Street from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Appointments Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to make the following appointments: MAPC Representative - Joe Marino for a term to expire December 16, 1999 Historic Districts Commission Associate Member-Elaine Doran for a term to expire December 31, 2000 � E Transportation Advisory Committee -Ben Turk for a term to expire September 30, 1999 60-375c Selectmen's Meeting-December 2, 1996 Budget Reviews Library Director Carol Mahoney and Assistant Director Connie Rawson presented the Library request for FY 98. Recreation Director Karen Simmons presented the Recreation Enterprise budget request explaining there was a reduction of$47,000 which is a result of not funding an in-lieu of tax payment for FY 98. Social Services Director Nancy Freed presented the budget requests of the Council on Aging, Services for Youth and Developmentally Disabled Programs. Town Clerk Donna Hooper presented the Town Clerk, Registrar of Voters and Elections budget requests and reviewed the need to purchase more state of the art voting machines through the capital budget. Town Finance Director John Ryan reviewed the Retirement, Financial Services and Municipal Network budget requests. Mr. Ryan also reviewed a supplemental request for secretarial assistance to cover the finance operations of Assessors, Revenue, Comptroller's and Purchasing offices. Inspectional Services Director Steve Frederickson reviewed the Inspectional Services Department budget requests including building, health and conservation. He also reviewed a supplemental request through the Health budget to assist the Police in domestic violence situations. Hanscom Update Mr. Fenn reviewed balances in HATS accounts and asked the Board's approval to use these balances. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to authorize HATS to use the balance of $1,900 appropriated in 1992 for GEIR legal and consulting fees which may be incurred in the course of the four-town study. Executive Session Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted 5-0 by roll call vote: Mr. McSweeney, Mr. Dailey, Mr. Busa, Mr. Fenn and Mrs. Eddison to go into executive session for discussion of litigation matters with no intent to resume open session. rt 60-375d Selectmen's Meeting-December 2, 1996 Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to adjourn at 11:0 p.m. A true record, Attest: A Phyllis Av .S 'th Executi. Clerk lEE` { 60-376 Selectmen's Meeting Minutes December 16, 1996 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held on Monday, December 16, 1996 in the Selectmen's Meeting Room, Town Office Building at 7:30 p.m. Chairman McSweeney, Mr. Busa, Mr. Fenn, Mrs. Eddison; Mr. Cohen, Town Counsel; Mr. White, Town Manager; and Ms. Smith, Executive Clerk, were present. Public Discussion Mr. Stephen Tripi expressed his concern over the cost of street lights and inquired why the lights can't be put on a time sensor rather than a light sensor. He also expressed his desire to see high pressure sodium lights. Dawn McKenna said she was concerned about the impending move of the Transportation Office to the second floor because it primarily services the elderly. She expressed several reasons why she felt it was not an appropriate move. NYNEX Grant of Location- 15 Spring Street Mr. McSweeney opened a hearing on the petition of New England Telephone for a grant of location for conduit to be installed to provide underground service to the residence at 15 Spring Street. Residents at#17 and #23 Spring Street asked questions concerning the length of the conduit and whether electric service will be a separate conduit. There being no further questions, Mr. McSweeney declared the hearing closed. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve the petition of the New England Telephone and Telegraph Company to lay and maintain underground conduits and manholes, with the wires and cables to be placed therein, under the surface of Spring Street from pole number 4 in a northwesterly direction, a distance of 23 feet (±). Consent Agenda Conservation Restriction - 24 Butterfield Road Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve a conservation restriction for 24 Butterfield Road. S. Lawrence Whipple History Scholarship Award Fund Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to accept the S. Lawrence Whipple History Scholarship Award Fund. 60-377 Selectmen's Meeting-December 16, 1996 Srinivasu Meka Scholarship Fund Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to accept the Srinivasu Meka Scholarship Fund. LexHAB Chairman of LexHAB Marshall Derby advised the Board of an opportunity for LexHAB to purchase a two-bedroom house for sale at 425 Bedford Street. LexHAB will, if the Board approves the purchase, take off the asbestos siding on the house, will have any lead paint removed, will re-roof the house and possibly add a carport. LexHAB has made an offer of $126,000 on the house subject to a housing inspection and Board of Selectmen approval. The house is 45 years old and well maintained. It will cost approximately $8,000 to $10,000 to make the necessary improvements listed. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve LexHAB's purchase of the house at 425 Bedford Street for $126,000. I License Renewals Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve the following renewal applications and issue 1997 licenses as follows: Common Victualler Athenian Restaurant Bel Canto Bruegger's Bagel Bakery Chadwick's Dunkin Donuts (373 Waltham Street) Friendly's Restaurant (66 Bedford Street) Friendly's Restaurant (1060 Waltham Street) The Hartwell House Holiday Inn Express Lemon Grass Restaurant Lexington Elks Lexington Golf Club Lexington House of Pizza Mario's New Asia II Peking Gardens Pine Meadows Golf Club Sheraton Tara Lexington Inn Vinny Testa's 60-378 Selectmen's Meeting -December 16, 1996 Yangtze River Restaurant One Meriam Street Entertainment Bel Canto The Hartwell House Sheraton Tara Lexington Inn Common Carrier A Yankee Line, Inc. Class I Lexington Toyota Sales, USA, Inc. New England Transit Sales, Inc. Class II Lexington Automotive Sales Class III Diogenes E. Torres John P. Carroll Company, Inc. Inkeeper Holiday Inn Express Sheraton Tara Lexington Inn Coin Operated Machines Hayden Recreation Centre(4 machines) Lexington Lodge of Elks#2204 (2 machines) Lexington VFW#3307 (2 machines) Sheraton Tara Lexington Inn(1 machine) Battle Green Inn Inkeeper License Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to renew the Inkeeper License for the Battle Green Inn until January 31, 1997 and to ask that the Fire Department reinspect the establishment for violations previously noted and report back to the Board. Technology Project Team Town Manager Richard White introduced members of an interdepartmental, multi-level employee team who will be working on various technology issues that the Town will need to face in the future. Members of the team reviewed various aspects of a draft plan, and a planned timetable for each phase. 60-3 79 Selectmen's Meeting-December 16, 1996 Street Lights DPW Director George Woodbury gave the selectmen a status report on the program of turning off every other street light in Town and also the status of the appeal process. Budget General Government Assistant Town Manager Linda Vine reviewed the Town Manager's Office budget,jurisdictional accounts 2140 unemployment benefits, 2150 police and fire medical, 2320 municipal salary adjustments, and 2110 municipal services. Revenue Estimates The Town Manager reviewed the revised revenue estimates and indicated he will be presenting his By-Law budget to the Selectmen on January 15. Minutes Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve the minutes of the meetings of November 4, 1996 and November 18, 1996. Executive Session Minutes Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve the executive session minutes of the meetings of November 18, 1996 and December 2, 1996. NESWC DPW Director George Woodbury reviewed three options with the current NESWC contract and the risks associated with each. The current contract expires in 2006. He reported that a final vote of the Board will be necessary once we know the projected outcome of the EPA air quality standards for municipal solid waste combustion. Executive Session Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted 4-0 by roll call vote: Mr. McSweeney, Mr. Busa, Mr. Penn and Mrs. Eddison to go into executive session for discussion of collective bargaining with no intent to resume open session. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to adjourn at 1 ;40 p.m. A true record, Attest (71„, Phyllis ` . Smith Execu we Clerk 60-380 S electmen's Meeting Minutes December 17, 1996 A special joint meeting of the Lexington, Bedford, Concord and Lincoln Boards of Selectmen The following Selectmen were present: Bedford Concord Lexington Lincoln Joseph Piantedosi Arthur S. Fulman Leo P. McSweeney Peter Sugar Chair Chair Chair Chair Bedford Concord Lexington Lincoln Val Asbedian James B. Terry Daniel P. Busa Jr. Rosamond Delori Gordon Feltman Leland G. Wood William J. Dailey John S. Kerr II Lora Goldenberg Elizabeth B. Eddison Mark Siegenthaler Dan H. Fenn Jr. Mr. McSweeney welcomed all in attendance and acknowledged the effort and time that the HATS representatives of all four towns have dedicated to matters relating to Hanscom Field. Representative Jay Kaufman described two bills that have been filed in the Massachusetts legislature which are relevant to Massport and Hanscom Field matters. Mr. Fenn, HATS Chair, described the meeting as a working session and indicated that there would be a motion to move into an executive session at the conclusion of the working session. He said that the objective of HATS and the four Boards was to protect the four towns from potential negative impacts in the future and to mitigate the current negative impacts of Hanscom Field on the four communities. Mr. Fenn read aloud a letter dated December 17, 1996 which Mark Robinson, Chairman of Massport's Board of Directors, addressed to him as Chair of HATS. Mr. Robinson's letter indicated that all prior commitments made to HATS would be honored by the new administration. Mr. Fenn indicated that the purpose of the meeting was to hear the consultant, Daylor Consulting Group, describe their approach to the four town planning study and to provide feedback and direction to the consultants. Robert F. Daylor, President of the Daylor Consulting Group, introduced Mitchell Fischman as the Project Director for the four town planning study. Mr. Fischman outline Daylor's approach to the project noting that documents received from Buzz Constable and the Lexington Planning Department were useful. A memorandum describing Daylor's workplan was distributed and reviewed. Theme based workshops, community meetings, one-on-one meetings, and focus groups were cited as potential methods for soliciting public input. Mr. Fischman indicated that the consultants proposed to complete the study within four to six months. Selectmen's Meeting -December 17, 1996 60-381 Mr. Sugar expressed concern that Daylor needs to understand the character of the four communities before technical aspects of the planning study could be researched. The consultants responded to a number of questions from the Selectmen and citizens regarding historic character, the impact of air traffic on property values and the local economy, the need to understand the communities vision for Hanscom Field and strategies for protecting the towns interests. Daylor representatives indicated that economic impacts on the towns will be studied that the consultants will maintain close contact with the Selectmen through HATS; and that the data developed through their study would serve as a check on the data Massport provides in the Generic Environmental Impact Rep ort. Ed Lieberman asked the four Boards to adopt a set of goals regarding Hanscom. After some discussion the Boards opted not to take any action on these goals at this meeting. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted by unanimous roll call vote to go into a joint executive session of the four Boards of Selectmen for the purpose of litigation. It was announced that the boards would not be returning to a public session. A true record, Attest: ,. ` °"2 Peter K. Johnson-Staub Management Intern 1 1 k itt 1 fi F. , ,